Football West News

Perth SC head coach Danielle Brogan is relishing Sunday's trip to Balcatta. Photo by Rob Lizzi/Perth SC Facebook

One of WA football’s traditional rivalries has its latest instalment this week … but with a difference.

The Balcatta v Perth SC “Italian derby” is a staple of the Men’s NPL season. This Sunday will see the first engagement between the two clubs in the Women’s NPL.

Adding to the attraction is that both are coming off excellent Round One victories. Balcatta enjoyed a 3-2 win at Murdoch University Melville, with Christiane Astorp again showing her prowess as provider and finisher.

For the Azzurri it was a case of displaying resilience in their defeat of a talented Fremantle City line-up.   

Perth head coach Danielle Brogan now wants her players to use the 2-1 result as a springboard, starting on Sunday.

She said: “When you are deserving to win and you don’t, it can have a  toll on your confidence. That was probably biggest thing we lacked in the Night Series. They had to learn a system I wanted them to play.”

Brogan was pleased by the manner in which her players came through a tough 90 minutes against Fremantle, conceding there were a few sore legs afterwards.

“There are 13 games to go so they’re not getting ahead of themselves. But we have really good depth to the squad, we have 18 players, so the girls know they have to fight to stay in the team.”

The squad is clearly stronger than the hand Brogan played with in the Night Series. That has included attracting players with interstate experience and a number who were together at Queens Park.

“If you had told me after Night Series we would be in this position I wouldn’t have believed you,” Brogan said.

“We’ve been able to bring in players from interstate. Nicola Bolger was here then ... you add Jess Byrne … Jodi Bruce, who was originally from Sydney. And we’ve got Jenna Onions, who’s at Perth Glory.

“And from Queens Park, there’s Beck Bennett in goal. Last week was the best game I have seen her play. There’s Jaime Duncanson, our captain, Emily Henderson … that’s a core group who have played together before.

“I can’t praise Perth Soccer Club enough. They treat us (men and women teams) all equal andI know we have got the backing of the club. Gary (President Gary Marocchi) has  been at all of our matches and down to training.”

Another aspect to factor is the experience Brogan brings to the table. A Matildas international and dual W-League winner with Sydney FC, she is ideally placed to assess the new competition.

“I was in Sydney when it (the Women’s NPL) first came in. It helps set standards, having a semi-pro league,” she said.

“Over the years to come it really will improve the pool of players. That in turn will improve the league and eventually it’ll have a knock-on effect for Perth Glory and the W-League.”

For now is the clash with Balcatta, a rivalry Brogan is keen to embrace.

She said: “We all know history between the two clubs. Before COVID, we had hoped to play a double-header so that our game would be played on the same day as the men’s. In years to come that could be a thing.

“We’ve picked up a couple of their players so that makes it interesting, but at the end of the day we have to take the emotion out of it.”

The first match of Round Two is at midday on Sunday at Celebration Park. Football West Hyundai NTC, who drew at Curtin University last week, have the task of halting Northern Redbacks striker Sarah Carroll. The former Perth Glory regular netted four times in the win over Subiaco.

Subi will need to sharpen up if they are to keep out another in-form forward this weekend. Katarina Jukic scored twice in the loss to Balcatta, and with MUM also including the likes of Ellie La Monte, Jaymee Gibbons, Kathryn Schubert and Sadie Lawrence, it could be another busy afternoon for home keeper Marissa Pidgeon.

Curtin University were just minutes from beat NTC last week. On Sunday they are at Fremantle City, whose second-half improvement wasn’t enough to earn a point against Perth SC.

All of this weekend's NPLW WA matches will be live streamed on the Football West Facebook and YouTube pages.

ROUND TWO FIXTURES